Basketball training glove

ABSTRACT

A GLOVE FOR TRAINING BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO USE THEIR FINGER TIPS TO CONTROL A BASEBALL INCLUDING A FOAM RUBBER MEMBER POSITIONED ACROSS THE PALM OF THE GLOVE ADJACENT THE BASE OF THE FINGERS FOR PREVENTING USE OF THE PALM TO CONTROL THE BALL. THE GLOVE HAS NO FINGERS BUT INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE MEMBER PASSING BETWEEN THE BASE OF TWO ADJACENT FINGERS FOR MAINTAINING THE GLOVE IN POSITION IN USE AND INCLUDES ELASTIC INSERTS FOR PROVIDING A MAXIMUM OF FREEDOM OF USE OF THE HAND WITH THE GLOVE ON.   D R A W I N G

June 1, 1971 T. F. NICKELS ,3

BASKETBALL -TRAINING GLOVE Filed May 21, 1969 INVENTOR. TERR|LL FRANKLIN NICKELS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,581,312 BASKETBALL TRAINING GLOVE Terrill Franklin Nickels, 9400 Fox, Allen Park, Mich. 48401 Filed May 21, 1969, Ser. No. 826,612 Int. Cl. A41d 19/00 US. Cl. 2159 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A glove for training basketball players to use their I finger tips to control a basketball including a foam rubber member positioned across the palm of the glove adjacent the base of the fingers for preventing use of the palm to control the ball. The glove has no fingers but includes at least one member passing between the base of two adjacent fingers for maintaining the glove in position in use and includes elastic inserts for providing a maximum of freedom of use of the hand .with the glove on.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION {Field of the invention The invention relates to basketball and refers more specifically to a training glove for use by basketball players, particularly in the early years of their contact with this sport, constructed to encourage the control of the basketball with the finger tips rather thanflwith the palm of the hand.

Description of the prior art In the past, basketball has been taught primarily without the use of training glove devices. Without training glove devices novice basketball players often fall into the habit of attempting to control the basketball with the palm of the hand, whereas control of the basketball with the finger tips is recognized as the most effective method.

'Wherein training gloves have been used in the teaching of basketball in the past, they have usually consisted of gloves having weights or the like attached thereto for the purpose of increasing the strength of the players arms. Such gloves do not particularly promote the use of finger tip control of a basketball and are usually constructed in a manner which restricts freedom of movement of the players hands which is undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a basketball training glove which ineludes a member of flexible elastic material extending across the palm thereof adjacent the base of the fingers of a player wearing the glove. The resilient flexible member protrudes outwardly from the palm of the glove to prevent use of the palm in controlling a basketball and to thereby promote use of the finger tips for basketball control. The glove provided is constructed to permit freedom of use of the hand of a player wearing the glove and is constructed to remain in a predetermined position on a players hand in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the back of a basketabll training glove constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the palm of the training glove illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the basketball training glove illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The basketball training glove 10, illustrated in the drawing, includes a back panel 12 and a front or palm panel 14. The panels 12 and 14 have no finger portions so that in use the fingers 16 of a basketball player extend through the end 18 of the glove 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The panels 12 and 14 extend to the wrist 20 of a basketball player.

Panels 12 and 14 are secured together along one side by an elastic strip 22. The partial thumb cover 24 is sewn to the other side of the panels 12 and 14 and an elastic strip 26 is inserted in the thumb cover 24. An additional elastic strip 23 is sewn in the palm panel of the glove 10 adjacent the thumb cover. Thus, maximum freedom of movement of the hand is provided within the glove 10. The glove 10 does not therefore interfere with the normal action of a basketball player while training him to use his finger tips to control the basketball.

The elastic stitching 28 is provided around the wrist portion 30 of the glove 10, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2. The elastic stitching 28 in conjunction with the tab 32 sewn to the palm portion 14 of the glove 10 at one side of the slot 34 and the snap 36 operable between the tab 32 and palm portion 14 of the glove 10 function to prevent slipping of the glove 10 off the hand of a basketball player in use over his fingers 16.

At least one connecting portion 38 may be provided across the end 18 of the glove 10 between the panels 12 and 14. The connecting member 38 extends between two adjacent fingers 16 with the glove 10 in use and prevents movement of the glove 10 toward the wrist of a player in use. It has been found that only a single connecting member 38 is necessary and that if it is positioned between the little finger and ring finger of a player that less interference with the usual movement of the three larger fingers most useful in controlling the basketball is minimized.

A resilient elastic member 42 is secured to the palm panel 14 of the glove 10 adjacent the end 18 thereof. The member 42 may be constructed of foamed material, such as a foamed resilient plastic or foamed rubber, and as shown extends outwardly from the palm panel 14 a distance of, for example, one-half inch. The 'width of the member 42 may be approximately one inch. The length of the member 42 is determined by the glove size. The member 42 extends substantially across the entire palm of the glove. The member 42 may be secured to the palm panel 14 of the glove 10 by means of a flap 44 sewn to the glove 10 to provide a pocket for the member 42.

The panels 12 and 14 of the glove 10 may be very light flexible leather, vinyl plastic or the like. The elastic strips 22, 23 and 26 may be of any desired elastic material. The member 42 may be constructed of any lightweight flexible resilient material and as indicated above may be foamed rubber or plastic.

In use, a basketball player having the glove on, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the member 42 positioned across the palm of the glove at the base of the fingers will be forced to use the tips of his fingers to control a basketball since the member 42 will prevent the basketball from fully engaging the palm panel 14 of the glove. Should the ball engage the member 42, due to the resilience of member 42, the ball will not react materially different than it would on engagement of the palm of the hand of the basketball player. That is to say, it would not bounce smartly off of the member 42 as it would from a metal weight secured to the training glove.

Further, in use as indicated above, the training glove is held in place on a players hand by the elastic stitching 28, the tab 32 and snap 36 in conjunction with the partial thumb cover 24 and connecting member 38. However, free use of a players hand is provided due to the provision of and particular placing of the elastic strips 22 23 and 26, of the glove 10.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A training device for basketball players comprising a lightweight flexible glove having a partial thumb stall and no finger stalls, a connecting member between the back and palm of the glove only between the little finger and ring finger portion of the glove whereby the ring, middle and index finger of a basketball player wearing the glove are free to move unrestricted by connecting members between them extending between the back and palm of the glove, a pocket in the palm of the glove adjacent the base of the fingers of a basketball player wearing the glove, a resilient elastic member positioned within the pocket, which resilient elastic member extends for approximately one inch from the base of the fingers toward the wrist of a basketball player wearing the glove, extends approximately one-half inch outwardly of the palm of the glove and extends substantially completely across the palm of the glove whereby a basketball player having the glove on is forced to use his fingertips to control a basketball and elastic strips extending the full length of the glove on the little finger side of the glove and on the palm of the glove substantially in alignment with the index finger of a basketball player wearing the glove and over the back of the thumb of a basketball player wearing the glove for facilitating freedom of move ment of the hand of the basketball player.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 317,511 5/1885 Clarke 2-158 1,465,223 8/ 1923 Kobbe 220 3,065,472 11/1962 Linnell 2161 3,123,832 3/1964 Kubik 2161 3,344,436 10/1967 Stubbs 2-l59 3,398,951 8/1968 Disko 220X 3,031,680 5/1962 Compiano 2-161A 3,421,160 1/1969 Domenico 2159 3,496,573 2/1970 Kuchar et a1. 2l61 FOREIGN PATENTS 919,732 2/1963 Great Britain W 2--159 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 2--20' 

